Optimized protocol for esophagectomy to improve hemodynamic stability and minimize ICU stay duration: A methodological study with specific focus on intraoperative care

Patients undergoing esophagectomy face distinct challenges in maintaining hemodynamic stability and require rigorous monitoring in the intensive care unit (ICU); thus, establishing a newly designed intraoperative care guideline could reduce complications and enhance hemodynamic stability during the first 24 hours in the ICU. This study aims to develop a standardized intraoperative care guideline for patients undergoing esophagectomy to enhance postoperative care, improve hemodynamic stability, and reduce the length of ICU stay. This methodological study, carried out in 2024 at Imam Reza hospital under Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran, aimed to develop and apply intraoperative care guidelines for patients undergoing esophagectomy. A thorough literature review was performed, incorporating high-quality research on intraoperative care, focusing on enhancing hemodynamic stability and shortening ICU stays. The Delphi method was employed to achieve expert consensus on the finalized guidelines. In this study, we extracted intraoperative factors that contribute to hemodynamic stability and reduced hospital length of stay in patients undergoing esophagectomy from high-quality studies and presented them in the form of a guideline. The tailored intraoperative care guideline markedly enhanced hemodynamic stability during the early postoperative period after esophagectomy. This approach has the potential to lower complication risks and promote patient recovery. Additional research is required to evaluate its long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.